Overview
ISO/TR 23629-1:2020 - UAS traffic management (UTM) - Part 1: Survey results on UTM is a Technical Report that publishes aggregated results from an industry survey about Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM). Conducted by ISO/TC 20/SC 16 from 3–22 March 2019, the survey collected 107 responses to Part 1 and 16 responses to Part 2. The document summarizes respondent roles, key applications, expectations for standardization, regulatory status and perceived gaps - and is intended to inform future standardization work in consultation with authorities such as ICAO.
Key topics and technical focus
The report is not normative; it provides empirical survey data to guide standards development. Main technical topics and issues raised by respondents include:
- Safety and quality requirements - the highest-priority expectation for UTM standardization.
- Interface between ATM and UTM - data linkage and coordination with traditional air traffic management (ATM).
- General functional requirements and architecture - defining UTM services and system roles.
- Data structure, identification and control - interoperability, identification and information exchange.
- Detect-and-avoid (DAA) capability and other safety-critical functions (definition provided).
- Survey items in Part 2 further explored: UTM capabilities, safety considerations, stakeholders, regulatory status, implementation requirements, ecosystem advantages, and technical/regulatory challenges.
Practical applications
ISO/TR 23629-1:2020 documents real-world expectations and use cases for UTM systems. The survey identified common and emerging applications, including:
- Urban air mobility (UAM) and passenger/vehicle integration with airspace management.
- Infrastructure inspection and surveillance (critical infrastructure, utilities, pipelines).
- Delivery and logistics, aerial photography, surveying and agricultural applications.
These aggregated results help stakeholders analyze benefits and gaps, prioritize standardization topics, and plan implementation roadmaps.
Who will use this standard
This Technical Report is useful for:
- Standards developers and working groups planning UTM specifications.
- Regulators and policymakers (civil aviation authorities, ICAO) assessing regulatory needs and roadmaps.
- UTM system developers, UAS manufacturers and service suppliers designing interoperable services.
- Air navigation service providers (ANSPs), data service providers and operators coordinating airspace integration.
- Researchers and industry analysts monitoring UTM adoption and ecosystem gaps.
Related standards and next steps
- The report references UAS vocabulary standards (e.g., ISO 21384 series) and ICAO guidance.
- It is intended to inform subsequent ISO workstreams; a follow-up survey and deeper regional analysis are planned to refine standardization priorities.
Keywords: ISO/TR 23629-1:2020, UTM, UAS traffic management, unmanned aircraft systems, standards, ICAO, ATM-UTM interface, safety and quality, detect-and-avoid.